THE Rev Ian Paisley wasn't in the slightest bit perturbed by the Fianna Fail stall at the freshers' bazaar at Queen's University Belfast. It was all outstretched hands and smiles as the DUP leader inspected the Soldiers of Destiny's Northern invasion.

"How are you young men doing?" he roared before sampling a handful of the chocolate euro coins with which Fianna Fail was attempting to entice the younger generation. "We might send Dr Paisley a bill for what he consumed!" joked a Fianna Failer.

Fianna Fail announced a fortnight ago that it was setting up a committee to explore organising in the North. There's talk of an eventual merger with the SDLP.

This would entirely open up Northern nationalist politics, which had looked set for endless years of Sinn Fein dominance and SDLP decline.

Mischievous position

At Queen's, somebody had mischievously positioned the FF newcomers slapbang beside the DUP stall, which was festooned with red, white and blue. But Bertie's boys weren't worried. They blew up their green, white and orange balloons and handed out copies of the Proclamation.

The DUP didn't mind at all. Queen's student Mark Dodds, son of DUP Stormont minister Nigel, chatted amicably to Lorcan Price of Fianna Fail's national executive. If anyone was uncomfortable, it was surely the Shinners. Despite their public welcome for Fianna Fail's announcement, it must have been unsettling to see another outdo them on 1916 and republican symbolism. Still, everybody was polite and Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly courteously declined when attempts were made to recruit him.

A buzz surrounded the Fianna Fail stall. "We're delighted with the response, " said Price. "There's substantial interest.

We've recruited 85 people today . . . I think that's greater than any other party here."

Price let the Sunday Tribune inspect the membership forms. Only three or four were from Southerners. There were plenty of Belfast addresses but most were from border areas . . . Tyrone, Fermanagh, and south Armagh.

James Murphy, a law student from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, said: "My family is solid SDLP but I'm thinking of joining Fianna Fail. I want a merger. The SDLP has some great policies but they're not very good at communicating them.

Fianna Fail is so slick. The March Assembly elections were a disaster for the SDLP and this could be their last chance."

David McCann from north Belfast said: "I want to join a republican party with common sense. I'd feel at home in Fianna Fail. It backs up its ideals with clear policies, not just waffle."

Professor Paul Bew of Queen's University said: "Adams' strength will ensure Sinn Fein holds its own but there is something for Fianna Fail to tap into. There is a sense of anti-climax among some young Sinn Fein people. Now the Stormont administration is up and running, they're scratching their heads and asking where the republican strategy goes. The Assembly is so dull. It's not as glittering as they expected."

Questioning motives

Armagh student and Fianna Fail's Queen's organiser Darran McCann believes FF fighting its first election in the North would be "the most potentially transformative political event" since partition.

Some observers believe Fianna Fail isn't serious about the North. "This committee is being formed to shut up the Northern lobby and the timing was to distract from Bertie's tribunal appearance, " said one SDLP source.

Another SDLP figure disagreed: "Fianna Fail roundly defeated Sinn Fein in the southern elections and they're disappointed we can't do the same so they're coming up here to help. This is Fianna Fail gut instinct. They're also thinking of 2016 [the Easter Rising centenary] and what better way to commemorate it than organising on both sides of the border?"

Even if Fianna Fail is serious, the SDLP isn't guaranteed to play ball. While everyone the Sunday Tribune interviewed believed a merger would reap electoral dividends, the majority of SDLP Assembly members opposed the idea, or were lukewarm at best.

The more extreme complained about "cute hoorism and corruption", while others believed the SDLP's social democratic roots make it incompatible with Fianna Fail. SDLP leader Mark Durkan is reportedly unenthusiastic, as is Sean Farren who is leading an internal review into the SDLP's last electoral disappointment.

SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell seems more receptive: "I'm an SDLP member for the foreseeable future but I won't shut my mind to other possibilities.

The old political rigidities in the North are disappearing. The SDLP will have an open, honest debate on the best way forward. Any changes are at least two or three years down the road."

The SDLP is charisma-challenged. Former party vice-chairman Tom Kelly believes Fianna Fail can assist. "The proof is when Bertie or Brian Cowen come North to canvass with SDLP candidates.

It's the star factor. SDLP people crowd in to get their picture taken with the Fianna Fail person and voters rush over to shake hands with them. It lifts everybody."

Kelly believes his former party should stop analysing previous election failures: "The SDLP has been in perpetual review since 2001. It needs to start looking forward. A merger with Fianna Fail would win back disillusioned ex-SDLP supporters, soft Sinn Fein voters and nationalists who have disengaged from politics."

Kelly said a merger was three or four years away but a joint SDLP-Fianna Fail agenda on economic and social issues could come sooner. SDLP north Belfast Assembly member Alban Maginness is rumoured to have said he'd resign if a merger went ahead. A source said Maginness had made no such threat but had "no enthusiasm for any merger".

Another SDLP figure said: "Sinn Fein stole our policies on unionist consent and powersharing. The current political setup in Northern Ireland is SDLP policy through and through. It might be in our short-term interests to merge with Fianna Fail but it's more important to preserve our principles for the long term."

Popular with voters

Former SDLP Larne lord mayor Danny O'Connor said: "I've no problem with Fianna Fail but I don't think I'd join them.

We know all about Charlie Haughey and there's the latest allegations about Bertie.

In politics, you have only your integrity and the SDLP must keep its good name.

If you lie down with dogs, you come up with fleas."

O'Connor questioned how good Fianna Fail would be for the North: "They might be masters at creating economic growth but how effective are they at ending inequality? There's no NHS down south and there are people sleeping on the streets. It's fine if you're living next door to Bono but the kids in Summerhill still shoot heroin. The last thing the North needs is making the rich richer and the poor poorer."

A senior SDLP figure said: "I'm undecided on a merger but we should be very careful about throwing away our party for a cheap electoral solution. We've just got rid of the influence of Masonic lodges and the Orange Order, we don't want to bring in the brown envelope."

However, one SDLP councillor said the party needed a reality check: "The SDLP is a failed brand. It can limp on . . . principles intact . . . into oblivion or it can grab the lifeline. Sinn Fein succeeds in the North because people like winners, but Fianna Fail is a bigger winning brand than Sinn Fein. The Celtic Tiger and the all-Ireland dimension have immense appeal.

"If the SDLP keeps on dithering, Fianna Fail should organise on its own. It would hammer the SDLP at the polls.

"Fianna Fail coming up here mightn't be popular in the upper echelons of our party but it's popular with our councillors and, most importantly, it will be popular with voters."